AFTER a series of interrogations, authorities believe that Jonas M. Bueno has no direct link to the gruesome killing of a 16-year-old girl in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Police Major Milgrace Driz, team leader of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Davao City Field Unit, said Bueno brought his common-law-wife and two kids from Barangay Santikan, Danao City in Cebu to Nasipit, Butuan City on March 4, 2019.
They have been staying with a relative of his common-law wife in Barangay Sangay, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
The 16-year-old girl, Christine Silawan, was found dead on March 11. Her lower garments were missing and her face was flayed.
Bueno was arrested by the Davao City police on March 15 in relation to another case. He was then tagged as a person of interest in the Silawan killing.
Bueno’s whereabouts
Driz said Bueno was arrested for theft in Carmen, Cebu in 2011. He was convicted and imprisoned until 2016 at the Cebu Provincial Jail.
In 2017, Bueno was involved in a shooting incident where he killed a victim identified as Boboy Lumen.
He was charged along with his brother Junry Bueno and brother-in-law Jury Mal-ang for murder. The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of RTC Branch 25 Danao City, Cebu.
“Last November 2018 nag-offer na magtrabaho dito sa Davao, tumutulong yung common-law-wife nya sa parang karinderya at sya naman ay ipinasok na construction worker sa may hotel sa Matina area," Driz said.
On February 22, Bueno and his family went to the cousin of his common-law-wife in Davao City and stayed in Sitio Santiago Balusong, Barangay Crossing, Matina, Davao City.
On March 4, 2018, Bueno evaded arrest and brought his common-law-wife and two kids from Barangay Santican, Danao City in Cebu to Nasipit, Butuan City. They stayed with his common-law-wife’s relative in Barangay Sangay, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
“Pumunta sila ng Buenavista, nag-farm siya ng mais, may maisan doon. Itong tinirhan niya sa Davao, father noong taga-Davao,” Driz said.
He started to work as a construction worker on March 11 in Purok Guadalupe, Matina, Davao City using the alias Jason Martel. He used his middle name and interchanged the letters of his first name because he knew that he was being hunted down by authorities.
Bueno said he last used Facebook in 2011 and had no idea what Messenger was.
“Educational background niya, grade 4 lang. Parang hindi nga siya marunong mag-English. May information tayong nakuha na yung conversation ng biktima ay parang kasing edad or mas matanda sa kanya kunti,” Driz said.
Driz added they are investigating if Bueno is a member of a cult.
News reports said the manner of killing could be attributed to a cult operating in Cebu but Bueno denied that he is a member of this group and said that he is Catholic. He also acquired his tattoo when he was still inside the jail.
“Tinanong namin kung anong religion niya at kung may sinamahan siyang grupo o kulto although may na-recover kaming parang anting-anting niya pero according to him, gamot daw yon sa sugat o yong oil 'lana'," Driz further said.
Driz added that they were open to investigating new developments on the case and will cross check information with various law enforcement agencies.
"We are still open to any development if there are reasonable grounds to believe or probable cause and evidence of his involvement in some other cases. Nonetheless, we will take appropriate action. Further, some information and his revelations will be subject for verification and validation with other law enforcement and other government agencies," Driz said. (Juliet C. Revita)